Richard Nelson Gale

Richard Nelson Gale (25 July 1896-29 July 1982) was a General of the British Army during World War II and the commander of the British 6th Airborne Division.

Biography
Richard Nelson Gale was born on 25 July 1896 in London, England, and he became a prolific reader while studiyng at the Merchant Taylors' School. Gale was commissioned into the British Army as a Lieutenant on 22 December 1915 during World War I, and he was awarded the Military Cross for bravery shown during the Imperial German Army's failed Spring Offensive of 1918. In 1918, he volunteered to serve in the British Indian Army in British Raj, and he rose to the rank of Captain in 1930 and to Major in 1938. In 1941, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and given command of a parachute brigade, and he was given command of the British 6th Airborne Division in May 1943 with the rank of Major-General. The division was known for its invasion of Normandy in Operation Tonga in 1944, and Gale landed in Normandy by glider to accompany the division into battle. On 5 September 1944, the division was pulled from the front lines for rest and recuperation, and Gale was promoted to Lieutenant-General on 24 May 1945. In September 1958, he replaced Bernard Montgomery as deputy commander of the NATO forces in Europe, and he retired in 1960. Gale died in 1982 at the age of 86.